Lexi Chase

(ABC 6 NEWS)- The Chatfield Gophers softball team has had the best start a team could ask for--they're 8-0 in 2017, resulting in a 5th overall ranking in the Class AA state softball rankings

A good reason why the Gophers have been successful is because of freshman pitcher Lexi Chase, who has been a part of the Gophers varsity squad since 7th grade. “It makes me feel really proud because my hard work paid off," Chase said. "Back then I was really scared but (my teammates) help me a lot.”

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Chase's work ethic is second to none, and because of her efforts, she has turned into a stand out performer in Chatfield. “She is very hard working," Gophers head coach Mark Eickhoff said. "She expects a lot out of herself, she gets down on herself a little bit because she thinks she should strike out more people, or she should get more hits, she’s a competitor that’s for sure.”

“I work really hard too, so I’m always out here trying to get a little bit better each day," Chase added.

In the pitching circle, Chase has struck out 18 batters in two games. In the batter's box and on offense, she's just as lethal--she's scored 13 runs, has 8 RBI's, and five doubles. “She’s a good hitter," Eickhoff said."She’s always out here practicing after practice with her dad hitting balls and she’s pitching all the time, even in the summer she hasn’t stopped pitching since last year.”

“I go into each game just trying to do my best and making sure I do everything right and thinking ahead of time," Chase said.

Chase puts in the utmost effort, and her coach says that her hard work has inspired her teammates. “She has good leadership, everybody wants to follow her steps.”

The Gophers will return to the diamond on Thursday, April 27 against fourth-ranked Winona Cotter.

The President has unveiled his plan to fight the opioid crisis and the plan includes the death penalty for drug traffickers. The president talked about his plan today in New Hampshire, a state hit hard by the opioid crisis.

"Everyday 116 Americans die from an opioid-related overdoes," said President Trump.